Cambridge, Mass. – Fresh off a remarkable turnaround season that included a 10-win improvement from 2011-12, the Stony Brook women’s basketball team has been picked to finish third in the America East preseason coaches’ poll, the conference office announced Wednesday. The slot is the second highest in program history for the #Seawolves, who were picked second in 2006-07, and their best since being chosen fourth in 2010-11.

Each of the league’s nine head coaches received one vote in the poll, and they were not permitted to vote for their own programs. Albany and Hartford, who met in last year’s conference title game, were picked first and second, respectively.

Full Poll

Rank

School

Points (First-Place Votes)

1

Albany

64 (8)

2

Hartford

54

3

Stony Brook

48

4

New Hampshire

46 (1)

5

Vermont

30

6

Maine

27

7

UMBC

24

8

Binghamton

23

9

UMass Lowell

8

Stony Brook returns eight letterwinners and two starters from last year’s squad that posted the seventh-best turnaround in the country, including preseason all-conference selection and the league’s leading returning scorer, Sabre Proctor. A 2012-13 All-America East third team selection, Proctor averaged 10.9 points per game last year and was third in the conference with a 78.4-percent free throw percentage.

Sophomore forward and 2012-13 America East All-Rookie honoree Brittany Snow will join Proctor in the frontcourt. Snow saw time in all 30 games and made 26 starts during her freshman year, averaging nearly seven points and four rebounds per contest while excelling in the classroom with a 3.51 GPA.

Defense and rebounding were hallmarks of last year’s squad, as Stony Brook finished first in the league in offensive boards per game during America East play (13.9) and 44th in the country in scoring defense (55.3 points allowed per game).

Stony Brook also welcomes seven newcomers, including five freshmen, to the fold as it looks to continue its ascent in the America East in head coach Beth O'Boyle's third year at the helm. The season begins at home against NJIT Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. For tickets, call (631) 632-WOLF.